Bethlehem's Grab Bag - 1957 Various

 

Bethlehem's Grab Bag

Bethlehem's Grab Bag

Now Everybody Wins For Only $1.98

Bethlehem EXLP 2

1957

From the back cover: Here in this "Grab-Bag" of recorded "goodies" you'll find a fine sampling of the latest and best from the Bethlehem catalog.

From the duet of Mel Tormé and Frances Faye in "Bess You Is My Woman Now" to Duke Ellington's "Stompy Jones" covers a lot of ground in the jazz-pop field. A little time with this record and a high-fidelity phonograph will show how well it is covered.

Certainly the full scope of Bethlehem's interesting catalog is here well represented. 

Bess You Is My Woman Now – This duet by Mel Tormé and Frances Faye, with Russ Garcia conducting the Bethlehem Orchestra, is from the three record set of George Gershwin's "Porgy And Bess" (EXLP-1). As on this track, Mel And Francis are featured in the title roles of one of the most interesting and daring productions of the popular American classic yet to be recorded. Despite the unexpected casting, from the musical point of view this duet emerges as a moving and warm experience.

Other featured artists in the complete production are Al "Jazz" Collins, Frank Rosolino, George Kirby, The Australian Jazz Quintet, Betty Roché, Sallie Blair, Duke Ellington and many others.

Old Devil Moon – This is Carmen McRae at her swinging best. Carmen can be heard to good advantage in "Bethlehem's Girlfriend" (BCP-6006) which also features Chris Connor and Julie London. Mat Mathew's group, with Herbie Mann, here accompanies Carmen.

The Varsity Drag – This is a track from The Australian Jazz Quintet's new album "The A.J.Q. At The Varsity Drag (BCP-6012). For more details and personnel see their other records on Bethlehem. This tune is an appetizing sample of their sound.

Pick Yourself Up – Here is a new vocal and instrumental group that comes up with a sprightly style and unexpected words on a tune that is usually an instrumental. This tune is from their new album "The Pat Moran Quartet" (BCP-6007).

Route 66 – Here's the swinging Betty Roché (she first achieved fame with Duke Ellington) singing and "mugging" her way through Bobby Troup's standard. Donn Tenner's group back her. This tune is from "Take The 'A' Train – Betty Roché (BCP-64).

House Of Bread Blues - On this track Sam Most makes the clarinet his. He also plays flute of the same genré in "Musically Yours - Sam Most" (BCP-6008).

Stompy Jones – Taken from "Historically Speaking-The Duke" (BCP-60) Duke Ellington here features almost all of the great soloists in his current band. Especially stirring is "Cat" Anderson's ride-out choruses.

Have You Met Miss Jones – From "Claude Williamson" (BCP-54) we hear the swinging piano of Claude along with Don Prell on bass and Chuck Flores on drums. Here's a group that really finds a "groove."

All The Things You Are – Here Sal Salvador makes a definitive statement on the Hammerstein-Kern ballad that has become an up-tempo jazz standard. This is taken from "Frivolous Sal" (BCP-59).

Scuffles – Herbie Mann here plays delightful flute in an equally delightful original composition; taken from "Herbie Mann Plays" (BCP-58).

My Delux – To close this album we've selected a fantastic example of high-class jazz trombonist by Frank Rosolino (a high class trombonist). This is from his new album "I Play Trombone: Frank Rosolino" (BCP-26). – Joesph P. Muranyi